Doll construction



y 17, 1932- E. G. SCHAEFFER ,8 9,175

DOLL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 5, 1931 WITNESS 2%; 214

a W M ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 17, 1932 om'reo STATES PATENT] riee EDWARD Gr. SCHAEFFER,OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, AS SIGNOR TO AMERICAN CHAR- AGTER DOLL- CO.,INC., OF NEW YORK, Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK DOLL coNsTRUc'rI'onApplication filed July 3, Seria1 No. 548,661.

This invention relates to an improved con struction suitable for dollsand closely analogous articles.

An object of the invention is the provision of an improved dollconstruction of such conformability and resiliency, yet also have thenecessary rigidity and lightness to the end that the body or other partswill always keep in proper shape and have the natural feel in handlingthe same.

vision of a construction of the aforesaid character which eliminates theuse of stufiing, such as kapok and like material, incapable of keepingthe shape of the parts in which it is contained.

A further and general object of the invention is the provision of animproved form of construction which will be inexpensive, efficient andof substantial design.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe particular provision and relative arrangement of the partshereinafter fully described and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a front view of a doll selected toillustrate the features of the invention embodied thereby;

Figure 2 is a vertical section;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the type of skeleton or frame usedwithin the body or outer parts.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be apparentthat there has been shown a doll, the body or torso of which isconstructed in accordance with the present invention. It is to beunderstood, however, that other main parts of the doll may also beconstructed in accordance with the invention. The body or torso of thedoll includes a skeleton or frame 10 which is made preferably though notnecessarily of a single piece of sheet steel, which is cut, bent andformed to provide side members 11 suitably joined at the bottom, andeach of the side members 11 being provided with resilient or flexiblememhere 12 on the front edge, and similar memfbers13 on the rear edge,which constitute ribs. The upper ends of the members 11 are secured asat 14 in any suitable manner to a character that the body or other partsthereof will have desirable softness, pliabllity,

top member 15, which is also made of metal and of circular for1nation.The skeleton or frame 10 is provided at the top with arm sockets 16, andis also provided near the low-. er end with leg sockets 17.. Theskeleton or frame 10 of the vconstruction described will besemi-rigid.Theribs 12 and 13 will yield Another object of the invention is the pro-I inwardlyunder pressure and will return to normal position whenpressure is withdrawn.

In accordancewith another feature of the within which the skeleton orframe 10 is an ranged, and which supports the said body part 18.According to the invention, the

body part will be made up of the necessary number of sections, twosections sufiicing in the present instance which are secured together inbody forming relation. The said body part 18 is constructed of soft,pliable, elastic or resilient material such as high grade rubber. Thesections constituting the body part 18 are molded to the desired shape,and will be provided with openings at the sides to accommodate the arms19 and legs 20. Use is made of the usual elastic element 21 whichco-operates with means carried by the arms and legs 20, and also meanscarried by the head 22 of the doll to hold the arms 19, legs 20 and thehead 22 in position for movement in relation to the torso or body of thedoll. The top member 15 of the skeleton or frame 10 is smaller indiameter than the opening in the head or neck 23 formed on the head 22,and the upper end of the body part 18 fits in the neck 23 and is clampedbetween the neck and said top member 15, as shown most clearly in Figure2. The member 15 as arranged in the upper end of the body part 18,constitutes means to support the head 22 on the upper end of the bodypart 18, by keeping said end from collapsing. Hence said head 22 will beproperly supported and yet movablein relation to said body at 18.

The body part 18 is of such character that it will have the desiredsoftness and conformability as well as resiliency.

The skeleton or frame 10 and particularly the ribs 12 and 13 limit theinward flexing of the body part 18 when the same is subjected topressure, and react to aid the body part to return to its normal shapewhen pres sure is removed. Stufling such as kapok-and like material isnot 11eeded, the skeletonor frame 10 of the character described beingsufiicient to provide the necessary rigidity and flexibility inconjunction with theibo'dy part. Consequently the construction set forthwill be light in weight and will always keep its proper shape and alsohave the natural feel inhandling the same. i

It is to be understood thatth'e'invention is not'confined to strictconformitywith'lthe showing in the drawings, butthat the shape,construction and characten'of the materials used may be changed oraltered inlaccordance with the languagevof theicl'aim hereunto appended.

I claim: j

A doll having a head'provided, with" aneck, a skeleton provided withiatop membenmid a soft, pliable body part supportedby'said skeleton andwithin which the latter is ar ranged, the upper end of Said bOdYLPaItbeing clamped between said" neck "andtop member.

EDWARD e. SCHAE-FFER.

